Submission to the Gippsland RFA independent panel

(on Gippsland Regional Forest Agreement Consultation Paper)

Peter Campbell, 25 February 2000

The Chair
Gippsland RFA independent panel
PO Box 501
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002

The draft consultation paper has increased the area in reserves in Gippsland by 265,000 hectares, including some areas of significant size. However, overall, the proposal fails to fully protect the areas of high conservation values in Gippsland's beautiful forests.

I am very disappointed that conservation values have been compromised in favour of logging and woodchip interests wherever a conflict between the two has occurred.

I recommend strongly that the following areas (listed below) be protected, as they contain very high conservation values including old growth forests, high wilderness quality, rare and threatened species habitat, threatened flora.

Furthermore, these regions are unique and many contain significant river catchments.

The regions that I believe need immediate protection are:
 

• Eastern slopes of Wongungarra River (adjacent to recently protected Wongungarra Wilderness area)
• Valencia Creek and catchment (extension to Alpine National Park)
• Freestone Creek and catchment (extension to Alpine National Park)
• Mt Elizabeth (from foothills to peak in a new National Park)
• Crooked River and adjacent river valley and catchment
• Dargo River/Little Dargo River and catchments
• Mount Albert State Forest (extension to Mitchell River National Park)
• Little Round Plain/Horseyard Flat/Moroka Hut area
• Box Ironbark Forests at Lake Glenmaggie (firewood collection to be removed)
• Carey State Forest (southern section of old growth and northern Doolan Plains)
• East and West branches of Upper Barkly River
• Deadhorse Creek (as a dedicated Flora Reserve)
• Intersection of Wilkinson Ck/Timbarra River and surrounding old growth forests
• Marthavale and surrounding old-growth Wet Forest
• Colquhoun Regional Park (needs extension to RFA boundary)
• Extension to Holey Plains State Park, encompassing Mullungdung and Won Wron State Forests

I am deeply concerned that the RFA process fails to consider the impacts of native forest logging activities on all other industries in the region, particularly tourism, agriculture and fishing. Overall, a more holistic approach to the RFA needs to be adopted. Non-timber industries already employ 96.6% of people in the region, and it would be amiss to ignore the implications of native forest logging activities on those industries.

Opportunities for growth in these other regional industries must not be compromised by inappropriate logging and woodchipping regimes.

It is quite clear now that the RFA process has failed to deliver a "balanced outcome" for management of forest regions, to date they have only resulted in ongoing destruction and degradation of native forests, primarily for the production of low-value woodchips.

I strongly suggest that the whole RFA process to be reviewed with a view to including genuine community consultation and delivering better conservation outcomes, bearing in mind that over 80% of the Australian public are opposed to woodchipping.

In the meanwhile, a moratorium on logging high-conservation value forests regions (such as those listed above) is required.

Yours sincerely,
 
 

Peter Campbell

CC: The Hon. Sherryl Garbutt, Minister for Conservation and Environment